SAFF Opener: Pakistan, Bangladesh fail to generate excitement

NEW DELHI: An empty Nehru Stadium and an insipid goalless draw between Bangladesh and Pakistan in a Group B match marked the beginning of the ninth SAFF Championship football on Friday.
If poor turnout and the choice of venue was the talk of the day, Bangladesh's half-hearted approach raised fears in their own camp of an early exit.
As tournament's top-ranked team, Bangladesh hardly looked like a side which could seriously challenge its opponents - a hastily-stitched Pakistan team.Coming here as a serious contender for the title, the Bangladeshis will need to lift their performance if they hope to win their second SAFF title.
Pakistan were not expected to turn the tables on their rivals in their opening match, and they did not. Like Bangladesh, they too appeared rusty and didn't really gain much from their foreign-based players. They did keep the rival defence busy with sporadic attacks.
In the second minute, Germany-born Atif Bashir, who plays for Barry Town in the Welsh League, took a shot at the goal but failed to beat Bangladesh goalkeeper Sahidul Alam. The first real chance for Pakistan came in the 24th minute when Jadeed Khan Pathan's cross from the right beat Alam in the air.
Faisal Iqbal, who rushed in, just had to the tap the ball home but his effort went over the bar. Six minutes later, the Bangladeshi goalkeeper once again came off his line to thwart Bashir after the defence failed to keep a check on the striker.
Maldives held to 1-1 draw by Nepal
In the second Group B match, Nepal held Maldives 1-1. Maldives' Ali Ashfaq gave them the lead when he blasted home from top in the 45th minute. Nepal bounced back with Sandip Rai strike in the 64th minute.